The #6m signing was left lying on the pavement after the assault on a night out in Birmingham after the Blues victory at Aston Villa.

The 27-year-old got into a fight with a man who apparently taunted Beattie's girlfriend.

An Everton spokesman said the player spoke to the police but would not be pressing charges.

"James was enjoyinga night out with his girlfriend and a group of friends when he was the victim of an unprovoked assault," he added.

"He was shaken but not badly injured."

Beattie was with a group of friends and his girlfriend in the VIP lounge of the SobarR bar in the early hours of Sunday whena man reportedly accused Beattie's girlfriend of only being with the star because he was a footballer.

A fight broke out as Beattie's party left the club in the city's Arcadian Centre.

Security staff separated the player and another man - but Beattie was hurt when he took a final swing at the man, missed and cracked his head on a wall.

As Beattie lay on the ground a friend of the other man is said to have kicked the player in the face.

A witness, a 23-year-old salesman, who did not want to be named, said: "I heard a terrible crack as if he'd taken Beattie's face off.

"It was horrible. "There was blood everywhere and people winced - the guy ran off."

Beattie did not play in the match against Villa as he was serving a three-match ban for head-butting Chelsea player William Gallas on February 12.

Everton fans today called for club boss David Moyes to discipline Beattie.

Former ECHO Fan of the Year Harry Wildman, 52, from Litherland, said: "It's extremely disappointing when players get involved in brawls.

"Young supporters look up to these people.

"Coming so soon after he was banned it's up to the club to sort Beattie out."